Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEMCRS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBEMCRS’, characterized by its broadly upright and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and single flowers that are light red purple in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEMCRS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred toas Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEMCRS’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new freely branching and freelyflowering Begonia plants with attractive flowers and good gardenperformance.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in September, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Begonia xtuberhybrida identified as code number 09-0008-06, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Begoniasocotrana, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begoniaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in July,2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlandssince September, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEMCRS’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKPBEMCRS’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Single flowers that are light red purple in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have single-type flowers whereas        plants of the female parent selection have semi-double-type        flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have light red purple-colored        flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have        salmon pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia do not produce pollen        whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection produce        pollen.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia xhiemalis ‘BKPBECRM’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,818. Plants ofthe new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘BKPBECRM’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are denser than and not as open as        plants of ‘BKPBECRM’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have single-type flowers whereas        plants of ‘BKPBECRM’ have double-type flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEMCRS’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) are close-up views of atypical flower bud and the upper and lower surfaces of typical developedflowers and leaves of ‘BKPBEMCRS’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown during the summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dinslaken, Germany. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19°to 21° C. Plants were eleven weeks from planting rooted cuttings whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘BKPBEMCRS’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia x            tuberhybrida identified as code number 09-0008-06, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Begonia socotrana, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about            25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants            of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounded plant            habit; overall plant shape, globular to broadly obovate;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.7            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25.3            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 31.4 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about three basal branches each with            about three lateral branches developing per plant; pinching            is not required. Length: About 10.8 cm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Internode length: About 2.6 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Aspect: About 27.5° from vertical. Texture and            luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            developing: Close to 144A. Color, fully developed: Close to            146B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 13.8 cm. Width: About 10.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique, lobes not imbricate. Margin:            Dentate to crenate; moderately to strongly undulate. Texture            and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent; velvety;            slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent; velvety; moderately glossy. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to            between NN137A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 148B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Slightly darker than between NN137A and 147A; venation,            close to 144A and distally, close to 181A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B slightly to moderately            tinged with close to 181C; venation, close to 146C.            Petioles: Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B;            distally, close to 181A. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two.            Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex:            Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire,            ciliate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B and            145A; towards the margins, close to 157D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate single-type male flowers arranged in            axillary compound cymes; freely flowering habit with about            nine flowers per cyme and about 175 flowers developing per            plant during the flowering season; flowers face upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants            flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn            in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,            plants begin flowering about five weeks after exposure to            photoinductive treatments.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain            good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior            environment.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 11 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter, flattened:            About 7 mm to 22 mm. Shape: Reniform; flattened. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: Close to            179B; towards the apex and margins, close to 185C; at the            base, tinged with close to N148B.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth: About 1.5 cm. Tepals:            Quantity and arrangement: Four per flower arranged in two            whorls. Length, lower tepals: About 2.8 cm. Width, lower            tepals: About 3 cm. Length, upper tepals: About 2.6 cm.            Width, upper tepals: About 2.5 cm. Shape, lower tepals:            Roughly reniform. Shape, upper tepals: Broadly obovate.            Apex, lower and upper tepals: Rounded. Base, lower tepals:            Broadly cuneate. Base, upper tepals: Cuneate. Margin, lower            and upper tepals: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and            luster, lower and upper tepals, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous, velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower and            upper tepals, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;            matte and at the base, slightly glossy. Color, lower tepals:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 70D; towards the apex            and margins, close to 61D. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 181C; towards the base, close to 160B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 63C; towards the apex and            margins, close to 63B; at the margins, close to 53C to 53D;            at the base, tinged with close to 145D; venation, close to            197C; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 54B; towards the base, strongly            tinged with close to 161C; venation, close to 182C; color            does not fade with development. Color, upper tepals: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 68C; towards the apex and            margins, close to between N66C and 68A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 62B; towards the apex and margins, close            to 64D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62B to 62C;            towards the apex and margins, close to 63C; venation, close            to 197C; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to between 61D and 64C; towards the            base, slightly tinged with close to 150D; venation, close to            182C; color does not fade with development. Tepaloids:            Quantity and arrangement: If present, about 25 arranged in            about five whorls at the center of the flower. Length,            largest tepaloids: About 1.5 cm. Width, largest tepaloids:            About 9 mm. Shape: Roughly obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 68C; towards            the apex and margins, close to between N66C and 68A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 62B; towards the apex and            margins, close to 64D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            62B to 62C; towards the apex and margins, close to 63C;            venation, close to 197C; color does not fade with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between            61D and 64C; towards the base, slightly tinged with close to            150D; venation, close to 182C; color does not fade with            development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Angle: About 30° from lateral branch axis. Strength:            Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Sparsely            pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:            About 30° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;            moderately glossy. Color: Close to 199B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,            opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape:            Roughly reniform. Apex: Obtuse; ciliate. Base: Broadly            cuneate. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A and 145A;            margins, close to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed, all structures            transformed into tepaloids.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Begonia as flowers are            sterile.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEMCRS’ asillustrated and described.